Bones: Ratings for the 2011-12 season

Published: May 16, 2012

Here are the updated ratings for the Bones TV series. On top of solving cases, Booth (David Boreanaz) and “Bones” (Emily Deschanel) now have to figure out how having a baby will impact their lives. The seventh season of Bones typically airs Thursday nights at 9pm on the FOX network.

Here are the TV show’s ratings for the 2011-12 season, the best way to tell if Bones is going to be cancelled or renewed for season eight. Check out our FOX ratings report card to see how this show’s numbers compare with the others on the network.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final seventh season averages: 2.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.07 million total viewers.

Episode 07-06: Thursday, 01/12/12
2.4 in the demo (0% episode-to-episode change) with 8.64 million; second in the timeslot.Season average: 2.70 in the demo with 8.88 million.Demo average rank: #6 of 14 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Episode 07-05: Thursday, 12/08/11
2.4 in the demo (-14% episode-to-episode change) with 8.11 million; third at 9pm, second at 9:30pm.Season average: 2.76 in the demo with 8.88 million.Demo average rank: #5 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Episode 07-04: Thursday, 12/01/11
2.8 in the demo (+4% episode-to-episode change) with 8.91 million; second at 9pm, first at 9:30pm.Season average: 2.85 in the demo with 9.08 million.Demo average rank: #5 of 13 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Episode 07-03: Thursday, 11/17/11
2.7 in the demo (+4% episode-to-episode change) with 8.76 million; second in the timeslot at 9pm, first at 9:30pm.Season average: 2.87 in the demo with 9.13 million.Demo average rank: #6 of 12 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Episode 07-02: Thursday, 11/10/11
2.6 in the demo (-21% episode-to-episode change) with 8.64 million; third in the timeslot.Season average: 2.95 in the demo with 9.32 million.Demo average rank: #6 of 12 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Episode 07-01: Thursday, 11/03/11
3.3 in the 18-49 demographic with 10.0 million total viewers; second in the timeslot.Season average: 3.30 in the demo with 10.00 million.Demo average rank: #5 of 12 scripted TV shows on the network (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012).

Season seven kicked off with a bang, no doubt in part thanks to a strong lead-in from X Factor. Bones was up by 22% when compared to last season’s premiere (a 2.7 in the demo) and saw it’s best numbers since 2008.

Reference point: The 2010-11 season averaged a 3.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 10.09 million viewers.

Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.

What do you think? Do you like Bones TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for an eighth season?

Bones was one of my favorite TV shows. Loved the sexual tension between Bones and Booth. Now that’s gone and the show can’t go back to the way it once was. Thought I’d give it a chance though, but after three episodes I am no longer a fan of the show.

I watched it for years, but the 2010 season sucked and I just knew this season would also. It jumped the shark with all the pregnantces. I liked the stories, albiet they are getting too graphic, and I liked the character interaction, but the baby krap is too much. It’s going to be a total chic flick series now, all the men will flee.

See, about the Moonlighting comparison… I think the chemistry of Bones and Booth is such that, if they had taken the time to develop the “romantic” aspect of their relationship (a “courtship” period as my mother calls it, most of us would probably just say “dating/getting-to-know-you”), I think people would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. Instead, because of the actress’s real life pregnancy being written in, we skip straight to the presumably-happy ending (made simpler by fact that Brennan is rich enough to support a child without struggle). It’s been great watching the two leads’ chemistry up to this point,… Read more »

I vote to renew! This is the best season yet. I looked closely and I think Bones could be pregnant in real life. Her face looks like it to me. Love the cast too. I think when they add babies into a series, it is more true to life.